By Olivia Cahoon
Laser cutters are available in a variety of styles, sizes, and capabilities. A non-contact process, most laser devices use heat to create incisions and leave the material unharmed with precise engraving or cutting scores. Manufacturers take advantage of today’s advanced laser finishing devices to handle a range of materials from plastic and rubber to leather and wood.
Investing in Good Tools
Founded in 2005, Medical Production Technologies (MPT Europe BV) is a mechanical engineering company based in Leek, Netherlands. It started with the aim of providing high-quality machines in mechanical engineering and automation.
With eight employees, it now operates as a high-quality machine builder for the medical industry and manufactures measuring devices, production equipment, and customer-specific machines. For example, it makes hardware for creating stents and balloon catheters. Almost all of MPT Europe BV’s work is handled in house to control quality.
The medical technology industry is demanding and requires precise, intricate details in every aspect. To keep up with today’s standards, MPT Europe BV considered a laser machine to provide all of its manufactured parts with a unique code. “We laser engrave textual codes for traceability purposes, our name and logo on the machine parts, and various labels and warning signs,” shares Jugen de Vries, founder, MPT Europe BV.
For laser engraving, MPT Europe BV ultimately decided on the Trotec Laser Speedy 400 with Flexx Technology. With a maximum 40×24-inch work area, the Speedy 400 laser increases production capacity with an engraving speed of 170 inches per second and 5g acceleration. The laser itself is powered up to 120 watts.
Trotec patented Flexx Technology integrates two laser sources—carbon dioxide and fiber. With both in one machine, the Speedy 400 laser allows for a variety of different materials to be processed in one operation. The carbon dioxide laser is suited for engraving and cutting plastics, wood, rubber, and leather while the fiber laser is ideal for marking metals and staining plastics.
The company also uses Trotec JobControl laser software, which connects to its ERP system. The ERP system provides the laser software with parts’ information and engraving content, such as reference and serial numbers.
Trotec JobControl laser software is designed to simplify daily work for optimal cutting and engraving results. Users may operate in common programs such as AutoDesk AutoCAD, Corel CorelDraw, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, and Microsoft Word. From there, designs are sent from the PC to the laser.
“Good tools are half the work, this applies to our own machines and to the machines that I purchase,” says Vries.
MPT Europe BV ultimately selected Trotec engraving solutions and software for its high quality. The company processes various materials, including plastics, laminates, rubber, paper, and metals—ideal for Trotec Flexx Technology.
“With this Trotec Speedy 400 laser machine we have the freedom to process both organic materials and metals and plastics. We hope to deliver many beautiful machines to our customers worldwide with high-quality laser engraving,” adds Vries.
Intuitive Laser Solutions
Together, Trotec’s JobControl laser software and the Speedy 400 laser solution provide a streamlined laser engraving and cutting process for MPT Europe BV. With the solutions in house, the manufacturer continues to serve the high demands of the medical technology industry. IPM
Sep2020, Industrial Print Magazine